WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today announced changes to his senior professional Committee staff.
Joel Leftwich, the Committee’s staff director, will be leaving the Committee staff later this month to pursue other interests. Replacing him as staff director will be the Committee’s policy director, James Glueck.
“Joel Leftwich has been a trusted and valuable advisor,” Roberts said. “He fought for farmers and ranchers and achieved bipartisan success on problems many thought had no solution. He has honorably served agriculture and the Senate with distinction, and I wish him well in his future endeavors.
“James Glueck is experienced in both the Senate and in agriculture policy. He accepts the responsibility for running the Committee staff at a critical time as we begin to consider the next Farm Bill. I am confident he will carry on the Committee’s focus on the farmer and rancher and put their needs first.”
Prior to serving as staff director for the Agriculture Committee, Leftwich worked as senior director for PepsiCo’s public policy and government affairs team. He previously served Senator Roberts as deputy staff director for the Agriculture Committee and as a legislative assistant covering agriculture, energy and transportation policy. Leftwich’s professional career includes being a legislative aide to Congressman Jim Ryun, R-Kan., director of alumni relations at Friends University, congressional liaison at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Congressional Relations, and program manager for DuPont’s government affairs team. Leftwich was born and raised in Wellington, Kan., and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Friends University in Wichita, Kan., and a Master of Arts degree from Loyola University of Chicago.
Previously, Glueck served on the Committee as a senior policy advisor for biotechnology, risk management, and grain inspection under Chairman Roberts. Glueck also held key roles in the 113th Congress for then Ranking Member Senator Thad Cochran, R-Miss. He served as a legislative assistant for agriculture, trade, and water issues for Senator Mike Johanns, R-Neb. Glueck has also worked for Bunge North America and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including roles as a senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, congressional liaison, deputy White House liaison, deputy director of intergovernmental affairs, and confidential assistant in the Farm Service Agency. Glueck is from Canyon, Texas, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University as well as a graduate certificate in Advanced International Affairs from the George Bush School of Government and Public Service.
Senator Roberts is the first member of congress in modern committee history to serve as Chairman of both the House and now the Senate Agriculture Committees. He is serving in his second congress as Chairman of the Senate Committee.
—U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
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